That addition to Coronado Springs is GORGEOUS! I love the architecture!

Not sure how well those elevators will go with it being a hotel that will likely be super busy all the time. I was just introduced to this system last weekend in New Orleans at the Hyatt Regency.... the days before and after the convention weren't bad - the elevator worked well with few people around... but omg trying to get to our room at night during the convention was a NIGHTMARE. They eventually had to put an employee in each elevator to manually control it from inside because the system was overloaded from so many people asking for an elevator.

These are called "smart" elevators, but I think they need a bit more smartening up, like maybe a sensor that tells it how many people are already in the elevator? If you have a capacity of, say, 10, and 10 people get on on floor 12 and all want to go to floor 1.... said elevator shouldn't bother stopping and opening at floor 7 for other people wanting to go down because they won't be able to get on that elevator - they should've been assigned a different one.

We were invited out by Disney to check out the new NBA Experience at Walt Disney World's Disney Springs. While I'll let the photos and the video showcase most of the new attraction, let me touch on a couple of things here...

First of all, this is the building that replaced DisneyQuest, however oddly enough, the new attraction feels a lot like DisneyQuest, but basketball themed. It was almost as though while the deal was being made, they took a look around DisneyQuest with the intention of just re-theming it, but probably realized that with the experiences they wanted to create, they probably would have had to do some major re-construction of the existing building that it was probably easier to just demolish the old one and re-build.

But even from the start, where you walk into the center of the building to a staircase that leads up to the other level, and the different "attractions" are around the perimeter of the different levels, it still feels a lot like DisneyQuest!

(This is not a bad thing!)

Here is the official press release from Disney and I'll let you chew through this before getting to the photos and the video we put together...

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. – NBA Experience, the brand-new destination on the West Side of Disney Springs at Walt Disney World Resort, opens to guests Aug. 12, 2019. Disney developed this one-of-a-kind environment in collaboration with the NBA, where guests enter the world of professional basketball. The high-energy, family-friendly venue is packed with 13 different basketball-related activities across 44,000 square feet and two floors.

“When we were young, we played basketball in our driveways or in the park, creating those imaginary moments of making the game-winning shot for a championship,” said Stan Dodd, executive producer, Walt Disney Imagineering. “We want to take that energy and help you feel what it’s like to be an actual NBA or WNBA player.”

Upon entry, guests will feel as if they’re walking through the players’ tunnel at an NBA or WNBA arena. Once inside, guests can:• Feel what it’s like to be part of the NBA Draft• Improve their ball-handling skills• Step onto the court to make clutch shots and highlight-worthy slam dunks• Play basketball-themed arcade and video games• Enjoy two different 180-degree cinematic experiences• Take photos with NBA championship and MVP trophies• Make the right call just like a real-life replay official

NBA Experience also provides ample opportunities to learn more about the NBA and WNBA via interactive displays, films and trivia. The destination offers something for everyone.

A ticket to NBA Experience grants access to every activity, in any order guests choose, and they can return to stations to improve performance or learn even more about the game, players and teams they love. They can also customize many of their experiences to showcase their favorite NBA or WNBA teams. The adjacent NBA Store features NBA apparel, collectibles and more, along with Disney products designed specifically for NBA Experience.

And now onto our photos & video! Be sure to watch the video as it will give you a pretty good overview of what the entire building is like!

Video:

Good morning from Disney Springs! An "opening moment" is about to happen at the new NBA Experience!

Countdown.... 3... 2... 1... and the new attraction is now OPEN!

Disney & NBA execs and of course Mickey & Minnie!

Watching these two dance was amazing!

And the opening of the NBA Experience is sealed with a kiss!

When you first walk inside, you can't help but to think that the layout of the building has some serious DisneyQuest vibes.

The different experiences range from "Dribble..."

To "Dunk!"

And they are all labeled easily so you won't get lost.

Classic Pop-A-Shot video games are also here.

"Slingshot" may have been my favorite activity. It was this interesting "game of skill" themed to Basketball.

I do wonder if the reason why I liked this one so much is because it kind of reminded me more of the stuff you'd find at DisneyQuest?

"Shoot" allowed you to do just that... shoot baskets with a virtual audience that reacted to how well you played.

You can take your picture with a wax figure of the NBA Commissioner in "Draft!"

Here's a look at the layout of the building.

There are areas where you can see trophy's, uniforms and more from different teams.

Draft Combine puts your different skills to the test.

Wingspan, reach, and jump!

Yay! We got to meet NBA Minnie!

Love the look of her Jersey! Huge THANK YOU to Disney for inviting us out to check out this new Disney Springs attraction! If you're a huge NBA Fan, this is most certainly something you'll want to visit!

Seems like this is getting a lot of hate online but honestly I think it looks pretty fun, especially as an alternative activity outside the parks if you're staying on property for an extended period of time. I'd love to check it out, might only do it once, but that's about the same number of times I went to Disney Quest honestly.

I don't really get the hate either. When somethings not for me I always view it as a 'Well if they are all in there now, at least that could mean the places nearby I do want to go to or eat at could be quieter.'

I feel like a good chunk of the people hating probably didn't even like DisneyQuest or pretended they did but never actually went.

Garet wrote:I don't really get the hate either. When somethings not for me I always view it as a 'Well if they are all in there now, at least that could mean the places nearby I do want to go to or eat at could be quieter.'

I feel like a good chunk of the people hating probably didn't even like DisneyQuest or pretended they did but never actually went.

This exactly! It is not a "requirement" for a park to build something that will appeal to 100% everybody. Sometimes it is "okay" to have attractions, shows, etc, that might appeal more to once audience than another. I mean, case in point, not everyone is going to want to see the "Disney Junior" show and that is perfectly fine. Theme park resorts need a "balance" of things to do. And if the NBA Experience has its audience and they love it, then job well done! People who don't like it can simply move on to the next thing...

Kind of a odd partnership from my view, but I am sports fan so it looks fun to me. I see they got the commissioner and Dwayne Wade for the kick off but is that also Kareem Abdul Jabbar in the first picture?

RCjunkie wrote:Kind of a odd partnership from my view, but I am sports fan so it looks fun to me. I see they got the commissioner and Dwayne Wade for the kick off but is that also Kareem Abdul Jabbar in the first picture?

Disney owns ESPN and ESPN does a lot of work with the NBA. So that part makes sense. And yes, that is Kareem!

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